It's never to early to think baseball, with spring training just around the corner it's time to think about your fantasy baseball team. A couple weeks ago I went through some draft stradegies and ranked my top 25 position players, here is a look at who I rank as the top 25 pitchers for the 2012 season. Before we get there some draft concepts on picthers may be a good thing to review.
When drafting pitchers remember that the pitching depth in recent years has gotten a lot better. Three to four years ago the drop off from the pitchers to the middle of the road pitchers was huge. Now you have a few great pitchers and a lot of players bunched in the middle which makes the draft concept of pitchers has changed.
If your in a keeper league I would look at your pitchers and only keep the players that are at the top of the game or have shown great stability throughout the years. Players that come to mind are Kershaw, Verlander, Sabithia, Halladay, Cliff Lee and Lincecum come to mind. These are guys you know what your going to get. Yes Kershaw has finally shown his potential and I believe has huge upside but we will get to that in a little bit.
If your in a league that re-drafts every year dont sweat those pitchers. You can easily focus on getting your position players down early in the draft and build your staff later. If you take the first five to eight rounds and get your position players down you can still build a great staff. I can see great pitchers being available in the late rounds like Bumgarner, Latos, Cain, Billingsley, Danks and Nova are a couple that can be there late and give you a great rotation. So the reason we are all here lets look at the top starting pitchers for the 2012 season.
1. Clayton Kershaw - He will follow up his first NL Cy Young award with another Cy Young in 2012. He is the best left in the game today and also plays in a division that is hurting for offense.
2. Justin Verlander - AL Cy Young winner just got more offense with the signing of Prince this only means more run support which could be scary. Verlander could be in line for an even better season in 2012.
3. Roy Halladay - What can you say that has not been already said, he has been lights out for years and as he gets older he seems to not skip a beat.
4. Tim Lincecum - Many people are down on him but the Giants offense will be better in 2012 with a full season of Posey and Sandoval back to form. Only means great things in 2012.
5. Jered Weaver - Not a flame thrower but his control has improved tremendous the past 2 years, I do not see his strikeout numbers going any higher but wins could easily spike in 2012.
6. Cliff Lee - A number 1 pitcher pitching in the number 2 spot in the Philly rotation only means he has a better chance at winning. Do not expect anything in his numbers to raise but he has been a top 10 pitcher the past couple years and I don't see that changing.
7. Felix Hernandez - Image if Seattle had an offense, he could easily be the best pitcher in fantasy baseball but until we see that curve your expectations.
8. CC Sabathia - He does pitch in a very friendly park for hitters but with the bullpen and offense he has behind him its hard to see him get less than 17 wins every year.
9. Matt Cain - He could be a number 1 pitchermany other places in baseball but sittng behind Lincecum puts him in a great spot to improve his numbers in 2012. His K rate has slowly gone up te past 2 years and it could make another jump this year.
10. Zack Grienke - Just image if he picthed a full season in 2011, missed basically his first 4 starts and still had a great year. He broke the 200 K barrier in 2011 and will surpass it again in 2012.
11. Cole Hamels - Again when you pitch in a rotation as loaded as Philly has only good things can happen. He numbers were great in 2011 and should improve slightly but keep them on the low side of raising up.
12. David Price - He took a huge leap forward last year and will only improve. His value is hurt but pitching in the AL East. Still a stud you want to anchor your fantasy rotation if you can get him.
13. Madison Bumgarner - You may be saying really and I say yes really. After an awful April he righted his ship and took the league by storm. Of all the young pitchers in 2012 he will make the biggest jump in production. He could easily be the best pitcher in San Fran at the end of the year.
14. Dan Haren - The move to the Angels was good for him, He could just be one of the guys in the rotation and that made his production improve. His typical year end fall off did happen but not like previous years. Looks like he found a way to be productive all year.
15. CJ Wilson - Welcome to the Angels where he will be the number 3 starter and just has to pitch and that offense is extremely improved with Pujols in the middle of that lineup can we say 20 wins is possible?
16. Ian Kennedy - He had a great 2011 season and finally lived up to the hype he had when the D-Backs traded for him. I do think his numbers fall off a bit but those would sill be great numbers.
17. Michael Pineda - If he was still in Seattle I think he would be out othe the top 25 but playing for the Yankees gives him the added jump. Keep in mind he could of pitched over his head a little in 2011.
18. Tommy Hanson - His numbers were solid last year and can only get better. Pitching in the NL East does help but his strikeouts went up while his ERA took a drop. I nly see good things coming for him in 2012.
19. Brandon Beachy - Yes back to back Braves, Beachy had a great year and showed signs of getting better. He did slow towrds the end of the year but with another season under his belt he can only get better.
20. Stephen Strasburg - I struggled with but I had to put him here on pure potential but keep in mind he is coming off surgery and they may limit his innings but skies is the limit for him. We all remember what he did in 2010.
21. Josh Johnson - He was a top 10 pitcher 2 years ago but now has had Tommy John surgery and that has to throw some caution into how he will perform this year. Yes the offense has gotten better around him but do not expect a return to his typical form till 2013.
22. Jon Lester - He did have a down year but with a new leader in Bobby V I can see thiings turning around in Boston. Look for Lester to flirt with a 20 win season and have over 180 K's.
23. Yovani Gallardo - He had is ups and down during the 2012 season. I think he finally got comfortable as the number 2 pitcher in Brewcrew country and that showed. Now he can just throw. The loss of Prince Fielder and Braun(for 50 games) will hurt but his numbers should be where they were in 2011.
24. Adam Wainwright - Coming off surgery has him fall down the list but he has nasty stuff and should be back to form in 2013. Do not over draft him remember the offense production has dropped in St. Louis but he should still be the best pitcher in St. Louis this season.
25. Gio Gonzalez - Welcome to the NL East, yes he pitched in a pitchers park in Oakland but also faced offensive juggernauts of the Rangers and Angels. Also had to face those Yankees, Tigers and Red Sox. With that gone and still in a pitchers ballpark his numbers could soar in Washington. He is my sleeper who could steal the spot light in 2012.
So those are my top 25 pitchers for the 2012 season, I am sure other peoples list differ but that is the fun of fantasy baseball. Be on the look out for my rankings of the top 10 at each position. Just keep in mind pitching is deep so dont reach for a player that will give you the same pitching production a few rounds later.
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